HEARING LOSS
Noise-Induced vs. Music-Induced Hearing Loss
HEARING LOSS
There are a three main types of hearing loss, conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. For the purposes of this website, the primary focus will be on sensorineural hearing loss which covers the sub-categories of music-induced hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss happens after damage to your inner ear hair cells and is irreversible.
You may have difficulty:
Hearing high-pitched sounds (e.g., women's and children's voices, bells, whistles)
Hearing soft sounds
Understanding speech in the presence of background noise
MUSIC-INDUCED HEARING LOSS
Music Induced Hearing Loss is a type of sensorineural hearing loss resulting from damage to the hair cells within the inner ear. Once these hair cells are damaged from repeated exposure to loud sounds, they cannot "fixed."
It is important to use effective HPD's to help reduce the likelihood of early-onset MIHL.
NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS
This type of hearing loss is preventable and can be permanent after multiple exposures.
NIHL is a hearing deficit that begins in the higher frequencies (pitches) and develops gradually as a result of chronic exposure to excessive sound levels. (Rabinowitz, n.d.)
If you...
Have trouble understanding what people say, especially in crowded rooms;
Need to turn the volume on the TV higher, to a point that is too loud for others in the room;
Have to ask people to repeat what they said;
Are unable to hear high pitched tones (e.g., bells);
Have a history of being exposed to loud sounds (e.g., music, rock concerts, high level amplifiers, firearms, etc.)
Then it is possible that you have a noise-induced hearing loss. With any hearing loss, it is recommended to see your Audiologist for a complete test of your hearing.